Half a Dynasty

In Jiangnan, the Ye family had more say over money and grain than the imperial court.

In Jiangnan, the Yuan family had more sway over the troops than the imperial court.

In Jiangnan, the Yang family put more people in office than the imperial court did.

Put these three facts together, and no emperor could sleep soundly.

When Ye Yi was eighteen, he did just one small thing right: he exposed a fake grain-transport permit at the docks. He had no idea that behind that permit lay four generations of blood debts, an alliance between three families, and a hidden canal route that could drag the dynasty under.

The family stands united throughout; every blade comes from outside. The official system, grain transport, salt permits, and firearms are all depicted in detail according to the Ming system.